Hamza Ali Abbasi Calls for Justice for Junaid Hafeez

Hamza Ali Abbasi takes a stand for Junaid Hafeez, a former faculty member at a Multan university, who was arrested on March 13, 2013. He was taking into prison soon after an FIR was registered accusing him of having committed blasphemy

Junaid Hafeez, formerly a visiting faculty member at Bahauddin Zakariya University (BZU), Multan, was arrested on March 13, 2013. He was taking into prison soon after an FIR was registered accusing him of having committed blasphemy. It was while preparing Junaid’s legal defence that human rights activist and lawyer Rashid Rehman was gunned down. While a large number of celebrities came to Junaid’s support at the time, the subject surrounding his imprisonment is still talked about today.

Such injustice done in the name of my beloved Prophet صل اللہ علیہ و سلم.... This man has been in jail since 2013 on vague blasphemy charges. We need to improve the blasphemy law by defining Blasphemy as a PUBLIC ACT & have room for apology. https://t.co/NbIgX3W0NT

The latest to speak up in Junaid’s defence is Pakistani actor Hamza Ali Abbasi. Calling out the country’s blasphemy law, the ‘Parwaaz Hai Junoon’ star weighed in on the matter. With reference to a 2016 article published in ‘Dawn’, Hamza tweeted, “Such injustice done in the name of my beloved Prophet (PBUH). This man has been in jail since 2013 on vague blasphemy charges."

Yes i mourn for Tabrez Ansari & victims of frequent mob lynchings in India by Hindu extremists but we also need to raise a voice for victims of extremism in our homeland. Mr Junaid's lawyer was also murdered... This needs to stop. Ya Allah help us eradicate such jahalat. https://t.co/JhcLZELmMz

"We need to improve the blasphemy law by defining Blasphemy as a public act and have room for apology," continued Hamza. Junaid has been lodged in the high-security ward number 2 of New Central Jail Multan. His father Hafeez earlier stated that the security personnel guarding the jail treat the in-mates with cruelty.

Hamza added, “Yes I mourn for Tabrez Ansari and victims of frequent mob lynchings in India by Hindu extremists but we also need to raise a voice for victims of extremism in our homeland. Mr Junaid's lawyer Rashid Rehman was also murdered. This needs to stop. Ya Allah help us eradicate such jahalat (illiteracy).” Junaid was put behind bars on the charge of violating section 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code which held that if you in any way "defile" the name of Muhammad you "shall be punished with death".

Hamza Ali Abbasi will soon be seen in the Fawad Khan Mahira Khan starrer The Legend of Maula Jatt which was going to be released globally on Eid but has been a victim of unprecedented delays. He will be seen in the upcoming television show 'Alif' with Sajal Aly and the drama is penned by Umera Ahmed. He was seen in the Pakistani film Parwaz Hai Junoon last year with Ahad Raza Mir and Hania Aamir.